Single-trigger double-barrel gun.



PATENTED JULY 2l., 1908.

E. MEUNK. SINGLE TRIGGER DOUBLE BARREL GUN.

APPLICATION FILED APB..11, 1907.

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EDGAR M. FUNK, OF WYTHEVILLE, VIRGINIA.

SINGLE-TRIGGER DOUBLE-BARREL GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application led April 11, 1907. Serial No. 867,687.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR M. FUNK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wytheville, in the county of Vythe and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Single-Trigger Double-Barrel Gun, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns.

The principal obj ect ofthe invention is to. provide a recoil actuated mechanism to prevent the discharge of the second barrel from the recoil or rebound due to the discharge of the first barrel. In devices of this general class much difficulty has been experienced in preventing the discharge of the second barrel involuntarily after the firing of the first barrel. The recoil fronrthe discharge of the first barrel throws the firearm back and then on the rebound the trigger is forced against the finger before the latter can be relaxed, or'there is an involuntary muscular action which causes a pull on the trigger and effects the second discharge.` Many attempts have been made to remedy this defeet and in an application for Letters Patent for a similar mechanismfiled by me on March 23, 1907, Serial No. 364,132, is described a mechanism which has proved effective.

The present invention is designed primarily as an additional means for positively preventing the movement of the parts to a position where the second barrel can be fired until after the gun has assumed a state of rest and the vibratory movement due to the recoil or rebound has died away.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made-without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accom anying drawings z-Figure 1 is 'a sectional e evation of a portion of the frame and breech block of the gun illustrating a single trigger mechanism and safety device constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same, the parts being adjusted to position for firing the right barrel in advance of the left barrel. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective Aview illustrating a slight modification.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. l

In the firearm shown in the drawing, the breech block A, hammers B, B', and sears C, C are of any ordinary construction and are operated in the usual manner. The frame D is of the usual type and is provided with a pivot c for a trigger E which may be of ordinary construction, the trigger being preferably mounted at a point midway of the width of the frame.

At the rear face of the breech block are arranged bearings V for the reception of a transversely disposed arbor or shaft 11 on which are mounted two sleeves 12 and 13, each of which may rock independently of the other. Projecting forwardly from the sleeves 12 and 13 are rocker arms 14 and 15, respectively, these beingV arranged in such osition that they will be engaged by the iiammers B B as the latter are cocked, the rocker arms being moved downward against the action of a torsion spring 17. The sleeves are further provided with approximately vertical cam arms 1S and 19, the

rear faces of which are engaged by the outturned ends of said spring 17. The spring is formed of a single piece of wire having a central loop that projects within a recess in the breech block, the ends of the wire being thence coiled around the shaft 11 and having outwardly bent terminals that engage with the arms 18, 19, as described.

Extending transversely of the lower frame plate is a plate 2O that is provided with slots .21 through which extend guiding studs in the form of screws 22 that pass into threaded openings in the frame plate, these studs serving to guide the plate 20 as the latter is shifted laterally, and the extent of the shifting movement being determined by the engagement of the end walls of the slots with the studs. The opposite ends of the plate 2O are provided with upturned ears 23 from which project screws or studs 24 that extend through openings 25 formed in the side walls of the frame, but do not project beyond the outer faces of said side Walls.

These studs are so arranged that by the employrnent of anysmall tool, stick, or the ike, the plate 20 may be laterally shifted, or the studs, if necessary, may be arranged to project beyond the side Walls of the frame in convenient position to be manipulated by the fingers.

The plate 20 is provided with a pair of locking notches 26 arranged to be engaged by a small spring 27 that is secured to the lower frame plate by a screw 28. When the plate is shifted from one position to the other, the spring will engage in one or other of the depressions and will lock said plate in Y its adjusted position.

The plate 20 carries a screw or stud 29 on which is pivoted a lever 30, said lever having a rearwardly extended arm 31 that is reduced in thickness in order that it may form a spring, and at the rear end of the arm is an enlarged head 32 which may be moved under either of the sears C C, while the lower face of the arm will at all times remain in operative relation to the trigger, so that when the latter is pulled, the arm will be forced up and one or other of the sears will be moved to hammer releasing position. When pressure on the trigger is relieved, the resiliency of the arm 31 will carry it down to initial position.

At the forward end of the lever 30 is a cam 34 having oppositely inclined or pointed faces which are arranged to be engaged by the cam arms 18 and 19, one or other of the arms acting on the cam 34 to shift the position of the lever 30, and the active arm being determined by the position of the plate 20, so that when in the position shown in Fig. 2 the cooking of both hammers will result in downward movement of the rocker arms 14, l5 and rearward movement of the cam arms 18, 19, but the arm 18 only Will act on the cam 34, and will shift the rear end of the lever 30 to the position shown.

Secured to the lower frame `plate is a pair of springs 38 and 39 which are arranged to engage the lever 30 at a point to the rear of the pivot stud 29. When the parts are adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 2 the spring 38 alone is active, and the spring 39 does not come into play.

In the operation of the parts as thus far described, reference being now had to Figs. l, 2 and 3, a pull on the trigger will raise the lever 30 and the head 32 will be moved upward against the Sear C pushing the latter to hammer releasing position` and effecting the discharge of the right barrel. This is accomplished against the resistance offered by the spring arm 31, and so long as the pull on the trigger continues, the lever 30 will be frictionally held between the trigger and the lower face of the sear. As the trigger pull is. released, either voluntarily or involuntarily 0n the recoill or rebound, the spring arm 31 will follow the downward movement of the trigger and will bear against the latter with suflicient force to prevent movement of the lever to the left under the influence of the spring 38, this frictional binding of the lever serving to prevent such abrupt shifting as would bring it immediately to a position under the left hand sear, and in case of involuntary pulling of the trigger due to the rebound of the trigger against the finger, or to contraction of the muscles, the frictional grip between the trigger and the arm will simply be increased to an extent proportionate to the degree of pressure exerted on the trigger, and it is not until the trigger is fully released and the arm allowed to move down that the spring 38 can act to throw the lever over to a position under the left hand scar C. A second pull of the trigger moves 'the lever upward and results in discharge of the left barrel. On the usual cocking movement, both hammers are thrown back and will engage with the arms 14, 15. Both sleeves 12 and 13 will be rocked and both arms 18 19 will be thrown rearward. At this time the rear end of the lever 30 is under the left hand sear and as the parts otherwise are in the position shown in. Fig. 2 the cam arm 18 will act on the cam 34 and the lever 30 will be turned to the position shown in Fig. 2 against the resistance offered by the spring 38 in readiness for a second operation.

The mechanism thus far described is found effective in practice, Where light or ordinary charges of powder are used. Where the charges are exceptionally heavy, however, there is some danger of shifting of the arm 30 on the' trigger, and in order to positively prevent this, an inertia lock is employed. Pivoted to the frame of the gun at a point above and to the rear of the trigger is an inertia weight 50 that is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a coiled tension spring 51, the weight having a projecting shoulder 52 which engages against the frame plate to form a stop. Fivoted to the weight is an arm 53 that is adapted to a guide 54 arranged adjacent the rear end of the arm 30, and the ends of the two arms are preferably tapered or slightly pointed so that in case of slight movement of the arm 30 from the position which it should occupy, it will be caught and held by the arm 53 when the latter is moved forward.

The locking arm 53 is normally held back beyond the end of the arm 30, so that the latter is free to move as previously described to position under the sears.

After the firing of the right barrel, the recoil operates to throw the frame back. This overcomes the inertia of the weight 5() which is jerked forward, and the arm 53 moves forward to the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2, thereby forming a lock which will prevent shifting of the arm 30 to a position below the left sear. On the rebound following the recoil, the weight will be thrown back to its initial position, this movement being assisted by the spring 5l, and the arm 30 will then be free to move over to the position for firing for the left barrel. .The lock is but momentary, and is only for the period during which there is danger of Bring of the second barrel. The lock is equally effective in preventing the movement of the arm from left to right in case the parts are adjusted for liring of the left barrel in advance of the right barrel.

ln Fig. 5 is illustrated a slight modification of the invention, wherein the locking member 53 is mounted in a pair of guides 54/ that is provided with an inertia weight 50 which may be formed integral with or secured to the frame, the movement here being sliding instead of pivotal, as in the previous construction.

I claim l. ln a single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a laterally shiftable member through which movement is imparted for releasing the hammers, a pivotally mounted inertia lock arranged to be automatically actuated, and an arm pivotally connected to and extending forward from the lock, said arm being arranged to engage said member.

2. In a single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a shiftable Sear actuating member, a pivotally mounted Weight carried by the frame and disposed out of-the path of movement of the trigger, means for limiting rearward movement of the weight, an arm pivoted to the weight and movable into the path of said sear actuating member, and a spring tending to hold the weight in initial position.

3. In a single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a shiftable sear actuating lever, a pivotally mounted weight wholly independent of the trigger, an arm pivoted to said Weight and extending forward therefrom, the arm being arranged to engage said lever, and a spring tending to restore the weight to initial position.

4. In a single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a shiftable sear actuating member,' a pivotally mounted weight carried by the frame and disposed out of the path of `movement of the trigger, said weight having a stop shoulder engaging the frame, an arm pivoted to the weight and movable into the path of said sear actuating member, and a spring tending to hold the weight in initial position.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR M. FUNK.

l/Vitnesses':

JAS. M. WALKER, FRANK S. APPLEMAN. 

